#AviationAccidents#PlaneCrash #FlightDisaster#AviationSafety#CrashInvestigation#BlackBox#AirDisaster

Southern Airways Flight 242 ✈️

On April 4, 1977, Southern Airways Flight 242, a McDonnell Douglas DC-9, was flying from Muscle Shoals, Alabama, to Atlanta, Georgia. ✈️
The pilots were Captain Bill McKenzie and First Officer Lyman Keele, both experienced aviators. 👨‍✈️👨‍✈️

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Entering the Storm ⛈️

During the flight, the aircraft entered a supercell thunderstorm.
Large hail shattered the windshield, and both engines shut down due to hail and water ingestion ❌✈️
This extremely rare event is known as a dual engine flameout.

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Emergency Landing Attempt ⚠️

With no engine power, the pilots decided to attempt a landing on a highway in New Hope, Georgia.
The plane hit cars, left the road, struck a gas station, and exploded.
A massive fire broke out. 🔥

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Casualties & Survivors ☠️
• Passengers onboard: 85
• Fatalities onboard: 62
• Survivors: 23 (most were injured)
• Ground fatalities: 8
Total deaths: 70 😢

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Memorial & Media 🕊️

A memorial was later built at the crash site.
The crash was featured in the documentary series Mayday (Air Crash Investigation) in the episode “Southern Storm”. 📺

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Impact & Reforms ⚙️

After the crash, major changes followed:
• Improved onboard weather radar systems
• Enhanced pilot training for flying in severe weather
• Better communication between pilots, weather services, and air traffic c